Electric igniter for gas-engines



(No Model.)

A. J. TACKLE. ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GAS ENGINES. No. 606,312.

Patented June 28,1898.

IIIIIIl/III/I/ INVENTUR.

WITNE 5 SEE.

:rrn ra ns ARNOLD J. TACKLE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GAS-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,312, dated June 28,1898. Application filed October 5, 1897. ria 1 654,155. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARNOLD J. TACKLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gas-Engine Igniters;andI declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention.

My inventionconsists in certain details of construction,,which will bemore fully eX- plained by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a sectional view of a cylinder provided with myimproved igniting device. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of theelastic electric terminal on the line X of Fig. 1.

The objects of my invention are to provide an improved form of ignitingdevice in which all the springs for operating the elastic electrode areoutside the cylinder and so beyond the influence of the heat developedby the explosion of the gas.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved igniting devicewhich will operate with the engine running in either direction andpermitting the use of either a rotary or oscillating moving electrodefor coming in contact with the elastic electrode.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved igniting devicein which all springs are inclosed and in which the escape of gasesleaking past the stem carrying the elastic electrode is entirelyprevented, even after long usage.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved igniting devicein which an unequal wear of the springs used will not change the pointat which the spark is produced.

Referring to the drawings, A is the cylinder, which may be of anydesirable or suitable form of construction.

0 is the moving electrode, and B is the clastic electrode.

The electrode 0 is secured to the stem N by means of a set-screw, sothat it may be readily removed or adjusted. The stem N passes into thecylinder or combustion-chamber through the bushing S, which is formedwith a shoulder on one end and is secured in position by a nut on theother end. On the stem N are two collars 2 and 3, oneinside the cylinderand the other outside, so as to keep the stem N projected a fixeddistance within the cylinder and to prevent the leakage of gas past thestem i. A positive motion is given to the stem N by means of some movingpart 'of the engine, which may be either moved for renewal andpermitting the use of a harder material for the electrode 13 than thatof the stem carrying same. The stem M passes into the cylinder orcombustionchamber through the sleeve T. This sleeve is seated in thebushing E, which is insulated from the engine by means of asbestos orother non-conducting substance. This bushing E is made with a shoulderat one end and a nut on the other. Ashoulder on sleeve T comes againstthe outer end of bushing E, and a nut onthe inner end of sleeve Tprevents its moving when screwed up tight. The object is to be able toremove sleeve T without destroying the insulation. A collar 4 on theinner part and a bar F 011 the outer end of stem M hold it a fixeddistance within the cylinder A. The outer end of sleeve T is enlargedand has two chambers D and D opening into it, which are placed at rightangles to the sleeve T.

The chambers D and D have two internal diameters, the outer part beingthe larger. Removable plugs P and P are screwed into the outer end ofeach chamber. Pins. L and L, having an enlarged head, are placed in thechambers, with a spring between the head of each pin L and L and theplugs in outer part of chambers, and when in normal position theheads ofpins' L and L are held by the springs in contact with the inner end ofthe larger part of chambers D and D, the inner ends of the pins beingclose against bar F. It will be seen that if one spring bccomes moreworn than the other it will not affect the position of the pins, and asthe pins determine the position of the elastic electrode M there will beno change in its position.

The extreme outer part of sleeve T is circular and threaded, so that acover R maybe screwed over it, thus inclosing the pins L and L and theend of stem M, thus preventin g any foreign substance from entering andany gases from escaping which may have leaked past the stem M. Themoving electrode O coming in contact with the elastic electrode B willtend to turn the latter, when the bar F, which'is rigidly secured to theend of stem M, will depress the pin L or L, according. to the directionof motion, and allow the stem M to turn sufficiently for the twoelectrodes C and B to pass one another, which on breaking contact willproduce the spark for firin g the gases. The spring under pin depressedwill instantly bring the bar F, and thus the stem M, back to itsoriginalposition when the two electrodes have passed one another, thus makingthe operation continuous. The wire connecting this electrode to theelectric circuit may be fastened to the sleeve T or, as shown in thedrawings, to cover R, as most convenient. The electric current may besupplied by means of batteries or a small dynamo in the usual way.

It will be understood that the igniting device may be applied to anytype of gas-engine and that it may be placed in one of thevalve-chambers, as well as within the cylinder of the engine.

In Fig. 1 the two electrodes are shown as parallel; but they may beplaced in an y other position by changing the shape of the electrode tocorrespond. For instance, when placed at right angles the ends of theelectrodes coming in contact would be at an angle of forty-five degreesto the stem carrying same instead of parallel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder orcombustion-chamber thereof, a bushing extending into cylinder orcombustion-chamber through which a stem actuated by some moving part ofthe engine passes,carrying upon its inner end an electrode connected toone terminal of an electric circuit, a spring-controlled stem having abar coming in contact with yielding pins rigidly fastened to its outerend, passing into cylinder or combustion-chamber through a sleevemounted in an insulated bushing and carrying upon its inner end anelectrode for yielding engagement with the first-mentionedelectrode,which may travel in either direction and being connected withother terminal of electric circuit.

2. In a gas-engine, the combination with the cylinder orcombustion-chamber thereof, of a positively-actuated electrode forcoming in contact with a second movable electrode having a rigidcross-bar on the outer end of its stem, said stem passing into cylinderthrough an insulated sleeve having at its outer end an enlargement toreceive said bar and two chambers opening into said enlarged part ofsleeve, and a spring-seated pin having an enlarged head contained withineach of said chambers and bearing respectively against opposite ends andon one and the same, side of said bar.

3. In an electric igniter, the combination with a positively-actuatedelectrode of a second movable electrode having a rigid crossbar on theouter end of its stem, an insulated sleeve surrounding said stem andhaving at its outer end an enlargement to receive said bar, and twospring-seated pins carried by said sleeve and bearing respectivelyagainst opposite ends and on one and the same side, of said bar.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARNOLD J. TACKLE.

Witnesses 2 OTTO G. TACKLE, ANDREW Snnnmn.

